Terrible Airline, Bad Customer Relations

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

I think that the intent of the OP was to vent and insult US Airways employees. He does not seem that interested in the cause of the delay; rather, just the compensation for the suffering and 'expensive' ticket. He has already made up his mind about US when he named the title of this thread, and has stated that he has made future travel plans on other carriers. So, best of luck with future flights, and I guess you won't be visiting this site much more since we're such a 'terrible airline'.

The title certainly belonged on another BB. The nebulous reasons or (lack of )for the delays made me a bit uneasy. PB, US1 et al, seem to have no problem being specific. If the poster prefers not to supply details that is up to them-but it leaves us defending (right or wrong) without all the details.
Not very fair.

 

[USCREW]

The title certainly belonged on another BB. The nebulous reasons or (lack of )for the delays made me a bit uneasy. PB, US1 et al, seem to have no problem being specific. If the poster prefers not to supply details that is up to them-but it leaves us defending (right or wrong) without all the details.
Not very fair.

PB and US1 are true FFs, the OP is not.

 

[WCT]

Thanks again to everyone for offering your opinion.

I certainly didn't come to this forum and expect everyone to be sympathetic. Most of you have been polite and matter of fact when expressing your opinion, while a few have been hostile.

I will not supply specific information on dates and flights that could possibly lead to someone identifying my daughter. Quite frankly it doesn't matter. How Consumer Relations is handled is what counts. They have all the specifics and could address the cause of delay, but they did not. Who knows, they may of flagged her already.

Soon I leave to visit my daughter. I am flying on Jet Blue. Her trip home for Christmas is booked on Continental. Then she is booked to return to meet a travel group on American. Later, my wife and I have booked to another visit on Jet Blue. Also, I have a business trip to Orlando booked on Southwest, which is not one of my favorites, but they run on-time. We are probably not the type of customer US Airways wants to retain.

Take care. Happy travels!

You just hit the nail on the head. As many different airlines you are flying in the future explains you are just looking for the "GOOD" deal! IF you were actually a loyal US flyer, or other airline, which you might be, I would, yes have sympathy for you. I am sure if one little thing goes wrong on any of those other carriers, you will complain too, and the story goes on and on. Whatever happened to appreciation, and happy the airline is actually safe to travel???? Have we forgotten all the things that have been sacrificed to make us safer, and lost wages, pensions, etc. Think about it!

 

[john john]

2. When the HP/US merger was announced, Based on experience (something HP seems to be seriously lacking), the West was shown statistically, just what the impact of a merger would do to volume and how it would quickly snowball out of control. East did everything but use Sanskrit and Cave Drawings to show what happened to it after the PS/AL and PI/US mergers in the late 80s as a way of suggesting that the East facility be kept open longer until West had time to staff up and get all of the new-hires and temps fully up and running. That didn't happen.

but HP refused to listen. So, in the process, and by taking the typical el-cheapo route, it shot itself and the customer in the foot (again). It's just another example of the way HP does business:

The exact same thing happen with the reservation migration
THEY NO LISTEN

 

[jimntx]

You just hit the nail on the head. As many different airlines you are flying in the future explains you are just looking for the "GOOD" deal! IF you were actually a loyal US flyer, or other airline, which you might be, I would, yes have sympathy for you. I am sure if one little thing goes wrong on any of those other carriers, you will complain too, and the story goes on and on. Whatever happened to appreciation, and happy the airline is actually safe to travel???? Have we forgotten all the things that have been sacrificed to make us safer, and lost wages, pensions, etc. Think about it!

And this attitude guarantees that the original poster will NEVER become a loyal US flyer. In case you hadn't noticed, the customers do not, nor should they, care whether you have taken a pay cut, or lost your pension. That is an issue between you and the company. The customer is purchasing transportation and customer service from you (and me).

In this country, commercial aviation accidents are so relatively rare that safe transportation is a normal expectation, not an extraordinary accomplishment to be especially noted. No U.S. airline is unsafe as a rule; so, why should yours be singled out for its safety record? You want to talk unsafe airlines--try one of the airlines in sub-Saharan Africa, or domestic Aeroflot. Now there is scary.

 

[Bear96]

And this attitude guarantees that the original poster will NEVER become a loyal US flyer. In case you hadn't noticed, the customers do not, nor should they, care whether you have taken a pay cut, or lost your pension. That is an issue between you and the company. The customer is purchasing transportation and customer service from you (and me).

So that whole child labor in Banlgadesh / sweatshop thing is just between employee and employer, and as long as I can get a cheap sneaker I shouldn't care?

I kind of agree with your point (largely because I would never compare the plight of third-world labor with the "plight" of U.S. airline employees). But I am curious how far you take your reasoning.

 

[jimntx]

So that whole child labor in Banlgadesh / sweatshop thing is just between employee and employer, and as long as I can get a cheap sneaker I shouldn't care?

I kind of agree with your point (largely because I would never compare the plight of third-world labor with the "plight" of U.S. airline employees). But I am curious how far you take your reasoning.

Not to the point of the ridiculous which comparing aviation employees situation in this country with child labor in Bangladesh is certainly taking it to the ridiculous. I'm not saying that what has happened to any of us in the airline industry since 9/11 is fair by U.S. standards, but even people making minimum wage in this country make more in a day than people in some countries around the world make in a year.

I had a friend at Texaco who had not worked anywhere else since he returned from service in Vietnam in the 60's. One day in the 90's just before he became eligible for a full pension, he was let go and his job outsourced to India. He has a full-time job in Dallas and has a nice living, and I don't consider what happened to him "fair", but even he is the first to say that compared to most of the people in the world he is very lucky.

P.S. The average American, in fact, does not give a second thought to the fact that their sneakers are cheap as a result of child labor in Bangladesh. "As long as what I want to buy remains inexpensive and there is plenty of gas to fill up my 10 mpg Escalade, why should I care about those people? They probably deserve what they are getting."

 

[JS]

Not to the point of the ridiculous which comparing aviation employees situation in this country with child labor in Bangladesh is certainly taking it to the ridiculous. I'm not saying that what has happened to any of us in the airline industry since 9/11 is fair by U.S. standards, but even people making minimum wage in this country make more in a day than people in some countries around the world make in a year.

I had a friend at Texaco who had not worked anywhere else since he returned from service in Vietnam in the 60's. One day in the 90's just before he became eligible for a full pension, he was let go and his job outsourced to India. He has a full-time job in Dallas and has a nice living, and I don't consider what happened to him "fair", but even he is the first to say that compared to most of the people in the world he is very lucky.

P.S. The average American, in fact, does not give a second thought to the fact that their sneakers are cheap as a result of child labor in Bangladesh. "As long as what I want to buy remains inexpensive and there is plenty of gas to fill up my 10 mpg Escalade, why should I care about those people? They probably deserve what they are getting."

I seriously doubt that Texaco employees don't vest a penny of their pension for the first 30 years of employment. It's usually something like 30 days, one year, maybe two.

Maybe he missed out on the last year of employment, retiring after 29 years instead of a planned 30. Sucks but that's life. But there is no way he was put on the street with no retirement after 29 years. ERISA (law since 1974) forbids such practices.

 

[WCT]

And this attitude guarantees that the original poster will NEVER become a loyal US flyer. In case you hadn't noticed, the customers do not, nor should they, care whether you have taken a pay cut, or lost your pension. That is an issue between you and the company. The customer is purchasing transportation and customer service from you (and me).

In this country, commercial aviation accidents are so relatively rare that safe transportation is a normal expectation, not an extraordinary accomplishment to be especially noted. No U.S. airline is unsafe as a rule; so, why should yours be singled out for its safety record? You want to talk unsafe airlines--try one of the airlines in sub-Saharan Africa, or domestic Aeroflot. Now there is scary.

Please feel free to go vent your frustration out on AA boards. I have the right to my opinion.

 

[US1YFARE]

Please feel free to go vent your frustration out on AA boards. I have the right to my opinion.

I don't think he said you didn't have a right to your opinion. He was just telling you why your opinion was flawed, silly, and actually comical. I hope you really don't think pensions and pay were cut to make the airline safer.

There is nothing wrong with looking for value in the ticket you buy. US offers no value for Y or F because its product is at the bottom of the heap of US carriers. You are nuts if you think that customers should be blindly loyal.

Everyone says that we aren't going back in time and the industry has changed. Maybe it has, maybe it hasn't, but I will tell you that your competitors are offering a lot more for my money than US is.

I was on an AA flight last week I think and the pilot came on and said, Ladies and Gentlemen, when I say this (I thought, oh, crap, something's wrong), I really mean this from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for choosing American Airlines. We really do appreciate your business. Appreciating customers is a good thing that the new US needs to figure out. Instead, customers are the enemy and the cause of the airline's woes.

 

[WCT]

I don't think he said you didn't have a right to your opinion. He was just telling you why your opinion was flawed, silly, and actually comical. I hope you really don't think pensions and pay were cut to make the airline safer.

There is nothing wrong with looking for value in the ticket you buy. US offers no value for Y or F because its product is at the bottom of the heap of US carriers. You are nuts if you think that customers should be blindly loyal.

Everyone says that we aren't going back in time and the industry has changed. Maybe it has, maybe it hasn't, but I will tell you that your competitors are offering a lot more for my money than US is.

I was on an AA flight last week I think and the pilot came on and said, Ladies and Gentlemen, when I say this (I thought, oh, crap, something's wrong), I really mean this from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for choosing American Airlines. We really do appreciate your business. Appreciating customers is a good thing that the new US needs to figure out. Instead, customers are the enemy and the cause of the airline's woes.

We all have choices.. This guy changes airlines like he does his underwear. Please. He will defiently find something to complain about with all the other airlines he's floating between. My whole point being. I think a lot of flyers have lost respect towards the hard workers, and really how safe this industry has been since 9-11. The air rage is already getting out of control again. No one has appreciattion to all the things YES US WORKERS HAVE SACRIFICED!!!! You are one good complainer US1, maybe you should give this guy some of your best advice, besides telling him to stay away from US!

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

We all have choices.. This guy changes airlines like he does his underwear. Please. He will defiently find something to complain about with all the other airlines he's floating between. My whole point being. I think a lot of flyers have lost respect towards the hard workers, and really how safe this industry has been since 9-11. The air rage is already getting out of control again. No one has appreciattion to all the things YES US WORKERS HAVE SACRIFICED!!!! You are one good complainer US1, maybe you should give this guy some of your best advice, besides telling him to stay away from US!

you know what, WCT--and, i apologize in advance for using correct spelling and words with more than one syllable--you are as consistent as my bowel movements. you hate to love management, and then you love to hate them. you remind me of that spineless dishrag from corporate communications who conveniently chimes in on these boards when DoUgIe's negative credibility is exposed.
you freely attack a poster who has spent more dollars on usair than you make in a decade (that's ten years) for making a comparative analysis between service offerings on usair and ostensibly (that means 'wannabe') competing carriers.
the minute your finger hits the keyboard, your credibility (that means your ability to have your posts acknowledged with any meaningful level of competence) is lost. why bother?

 

[US1YFARE]

The air rage is already getting out of control again.

Yes, I agree--it is time you seek medication or call EAP.

 

[WCT]

you know what, WCT--and, i apologize in advance for using correct spelling and words with more than one syllable--you are as consistent as my bowel movements. you hate to love management, and then you love to hate them. you remind me of that spineless dishrag from corporate communications who conveniently chimes in on these boards when DoUgIe's negative credibility is exposed.
you freely attack a poster who has spent more dollars on usair than you make in a decade (that's ten years) for making a comparative analysis between service offerings on usair and ostensibly (that means 'wannabe') competing carriers.
the minute your finger hits the keyboard, your credibility (that means your ability to have your posts acknowledged with any meaningful level of competence) is lost. why bother?

OH legacy, you are right. I should just bow down to you, because you are always right. And you are the so popular here, how can I compete. I try to give the westies out here a little clout once and awhile because the East doensn't always have the right story. Plus I enjoy posting, so go get your trophy, I am not about to try and even be offended!

 

[orioleman]

Bottom line,
IF the company would provide a decent product then they would not have to worry about customer dissatisfaction ..

In keeping up with DOT stats for the better part of 17 yrs.. the old AWA always finished in the lower tier in DOT standings . Of course US has had its

bad years but it has also had some very decent years. 1 year before the merger even in bk2 US had some of the best stats going..

H?ll I fly AWA once to get to las thru phx. and let me tell you that was the last time I flew them . Went to WN and paid the service charge. how

sad is that. Bottom line . the MANAGEMENT with this COMPANY just does not give a RAT A?? about its customers or its employess.

that is where the problem lies.


Years ago. CO used a program that if they had a flight delay or problem in a particular city . the Gate agents would make an announcement

to its pax giving them the address or phone contact to its station manager . so as to not have them send it to the DOT. and the manager

for that local would answer and try to resolve the issue.. THATS called thinking outside of the box..